Effects of a Brief Meditation Training on Negative Affect, Trait Anxiety and Concentrated Attention
Carolina Baptista Menezes, Lisiane Bizarro
Paidéia December 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1590/1982-43272562201513 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 33 |
| Population | Nonclinical adults (experimental group: 14, 51.8% female, mean age 23.9; control group: 19, 62% female, mean age 24.9) |
| Intervention | Focused meditation |
| Duration | Five days |
| Measures | Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Concentrated Attention Test |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key points | Five days of focused meditation reduced negative affect and trait anxiety and improved correct responses on the attention test relative to controls, suggesting short meditation training may benefit some psychological variables. |
Abstract
AbstractMeditation has been associated with positive psychological outcomes, but few studies have investigated brief interventions. This randomized controlled pilot study assessed the effects of five days of focused meditation on positive and negative affect, state and trait anxiety, as well as concentrated attention in a nonclinical sample distributed in two groups (experimental = 14, 51.8% female, Mage= 23.9; control = 19, 62% female, Mage= 24.9). The instruments used were the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Concentrated Attention Test. The meditation group reduced negative affect and trait anxiety, and also improved correct responses on the attention test, relative to controls. These preliminary findings indicate that even short focused meditation training may help improve some psychological variables. It is discussed that the early manifestation of these benefits may be especially relevant to strengthen the motivation to continue and practice regularly.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Meditation for Human Mind and Brain: Findings from Functional Neuroimaging Investigations Annals of Advanced Biomedical Sciences 2023
- USING BREATHING AND MEDITATIVE TECHNIQUES TO DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY: A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Society Register April 6, 2020
- Mindfulness for stress and anxiety management in nursing students in a clinical simulation: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education in Practice December 1, 2022
- The effect of a six-week focused meditation training on depression and anxiety symptoms in Brazilian university students with 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Journal of Affective Disorders March 1, 2019
- Mindfulness and Attention: Current State-of-Affairs and Future Considerations Journal of Cognitive Enhancement December 9, 2018
and 1 more in the library
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